How to Get Disabled Veteran Benefits for Spouses

VA Medical Benefits for Spouses of Disabled Veterans

Spouses of disabled veterans might also be eligible for health care coverage through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). Through this program, the VA shares the cost of covered health care services and supplies. There are no premiums for health care coverage through CHAMPVA—the premiums are free.

Which Spouses Are Eligible for Health Care Benefits?

CHAMPVA is available to some disabled veterans' spouses and to surviving spouses of veterans who died while on active duty or from a service-connected disability. If you're a disabled veteran, for your spouse to qualify for this health care coverage, all the following must be true:

• you have a service-connected disability (one caused by or made worse by your active duty service)
• you received a 100% disability rating from the VA (totally disabled), and
• your disability is considered permanent.

What Benefits Are Available Through CHAMPVA?

If you're totally and permanently disabled, your spouse is eligible to receive reimbursement through CHAMPVA for most medically and psychologically necessary expenses, such as:

• inpatient and outpatient services
• mental health care
• prescription medications
• skilled nursing care, and
• durable medical equipment.

CHAMPVA benefits are available even if your spouse has other health insurance or Medicare. Your spouse's health insurance will be billed first, with CHAMPVA covering many expenses not covered by the primary health insurance. But CHAMPVA benefits aren't available if your spouse has health care coverage through TRICARE, a Department of Defense health care program.

How Does a Spouse Apply for CHAMPVA Benefits?

To apply for CHAMPVA benefits, your spouse must submit the following forms and ID:

• Application for CHAMPVA Benefits (VA Form 10-10d)
• Other Health Insurance Certification (VA Form 10-7959c), and
• a copy of their Medicare card (if 65 years of age or older and if applicable).

While not required, it might be helpful for applicants to send the following as well:

• birth certificates or adoption papers for children (if applicable)
• a copy of the veteran's marriage license
• the VA rating decision paperwork
• the veteran's DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and
• school certification of full-time enrollment for children ages 18-23 (if applicable).

The application and supporting paperwork must be mailed to the CHAMPVA Eligibility Office at the following address:

VHA Office of Community Care
CHAMPVA Eligibility
PO Box 469028
Denver, CO 80246-9028

Or, fax the application and supporting paperwork to 303-331-7809.

Do CHAMPVA Benefits End?

A disabled veteran's spouse who gets divorced is no longer eligible for CHAMPVA benefits. And a surviving spouse who remarries before age 55 no longer gets CHAMPVA benefits. But eligibility can be re-established for a surviving spouse whose remarriage is later terminated by death, divorce, or annulment. To request reinstatement, the surviving spouse must submit a divorce decree, death certificate, or annulment decree along with the documents above.